Rory McIlroy shot a second-round 67 at The Open on Friday, but his putting woes kept him from capitalizing on his powerful driving, leaving him at one under par and six strokes behind the leaders. The world No. 2 drove the green on the 414-yard par-4 9th hole, sending his ball 403 yards to within 11 feet of the cup, but missed the eagle putt and settled for birdie. This moment encapsulated his round: brilliant off the tee, but inconsistent on the greens.
McIlroy's Driving Impresses, Putting Disappoints
McIlroy's driver produced the signature swoosh sound as he unleashed a 403-yard drive onto the 9th green, drawing gasps from the crowd. “Honestly, my gameplan was to hit it to the top of the hill and hit a wedge on and go from there,” McIlroy said. “But sometimes opportunities present themselves and you have to take them.” Despite the bold shot, he could not convert the eagle chance, reflecting a round where he missed several birdie putts from 10 to 20 feet. He ranked poorly in strokes gained putting for the second consecutive day, though he improved from losing three strokes to the field on day one.
McIlroy Seeks Improvement on Greens
Before his second round, McIlroy consulted putting coach Brad Faxon for advice. “I’m still trying to figure out these greens a little bit,” he said. “I’ve struggled the last couple of days. It was a little better today, but still didn’t feel 100% comfortable.” He noted that some putts behaved unexpectedly, describing it as “a little unnerving.” He emphasized the need to “try to trust and commit to what you’re seeing” on the challenging Royal Birkdale greens. The pin positions, he said, were “very tricky,” adding difficulty to an already firm links course.
McIlroy Remains Optimistic Despite Deficit
Despite being at one under par, McIlroy remains hopeful heading into moving day. “The main objective was to be here for the weekend, which I am,” he said. “I felt like I left a couple out there. Then you look at the board and you see a couple of 62s, and you feel like you could have done a bit better.” He pointed out that many of the leaders lack experience in major championship pressure, noting that Cam Young and Sam Burns are exceptions. “If I can get off to a decent start tomorrow, be four or five under for the tournament, I’ll be right in it,” he added.
Playing Partner Fitzpatrick Misses Cut
McIlroy's playing partner, Matt Fitzpatrick, missed the cut after finishing at four over par. Fitzpatrick expressed frustration, saying, “I didn’t really feel like I played that bad. I’ve hit three shots today exactly how I wanted them. One is in a bush 30 yards long. One has been on the green for basically 15 seconds and then dropped off, and that cost me a shot. Then I’ve hit one that somehow has gone less than the normal number and now all of a sudden you’re plugged in the face of a bunker. That’s the way links golf is.”
McIlroy's Driver Gives Hope
McIlroy's driving remains a potent weapon, producing a distinctive sound different from nearly all other golfers at the 154th Open. If his putting can catch up, he could mount a charge. The randomness of links golf, as Fitzpatrick noted, may also offer opportunities for McIlroy to climb the leaderboard on Saturday.
